From January 25, passengers must wear respirators or medical face masks in public transport

With the rapid increase of the number of people with COVID-19, a government decision introduced amendments to the use of the face masks. From January 25, a medical face mask or an unvalved respirator with the protection level of FFP2 - FFP3 or KN95 must be used in areas where it is mandatory to use face masks, including public transport. Fabric or non-medical masks can only be used by children aged 7 - 12.

Medical face masks and respirators meet certain international quality and safety standards. The efficiency of the medical masks secures up to 90% protection compared to the face covers made of the other material, while the unvalved respirators have an even higher level of protection, not only against the release of the exhaled droplets into the environment, but also against their inhalation from the environment.

With the approval of high epidemiological safety requirements by the government, the controllers of “Rīgas satiksme” in public transport will pay attention not only to whether passengers use the face mask correctly, but also whether a medical face mask or a respirator is used during the trip.

At the same time, the company urges everyone to act responsibly and not to wait for the controller to issue such a reminder or give instructions. During this time, everyone must take care to observe safety measures not only in public transport but also in other public places.

“Rīgas satiksme” is taking the following measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19: 

• at each stop, all doors of public transport are opened, except the front doors; 
• at all  final points, thorough ventilation of buses, trolleybuses and trams is performed; 
• the passenger flow is being constantly monitored, so that it does not exceed 80% of the passenger compartment occupancy; 
• every evening, upon entering the park or depot, all transport vehicles are desinfected. 

For communication with “Rīgas satiksme”, we encourage you to use the information telephone 20361862, or send an email to info@rigassatiksme.lv. Furthermore, you can contact the enterprise on the website www.rigassatiksme.lv in the section “Contact us”, where anyone can submit an application electronically.